Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

News Release

ATF Hosts Inter-American Defense College During Atlanta Field Visit

International firearms trafficking, explosives issues among topics of discussion with Latin-American military and government officials

A delegation of Latin American officials recently visited ATF facilities in Atlanta as employees showcased ATF’s mission in countering violent crime and terrorism in the international arena. In April, approximately 90 participants of the Inter-American Defense College (IADC) were on hand, to include senior military and government officials from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Uruguay. In an effort to enhance partnerships and facilitate the exchange of experience and expertise with foreign counterparts, participants discussed issues and ATF programs and initiatives related to international gun trafficking, explosives, post-blast investigation, arson, forensics and international response capabilities. The event included presentations and demonstrations from ATF National Headquarters officials along with special agents, explosives enforcement officers, canine handlers and forensic science laboratory personnel.

More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.

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An ATF special agent and his partner provide an informal briefing to IADC delegates, prior to demonstrating how an ATF explosives detection canine can locate expended ammunition casings at crime scenes.

An ATF chemist speaks about major incident, forensic response capabilities and gave tours of a mobile, ATF Rapid Response Laboratory.

Atlanta is also home to one of ATF’s three forensic science laboratories. Here, an IADC staff member checks out a fluorescing latent fingerprint on a bomb component, through the use of sophisticated laser equipment.

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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives United States Department of Justice